Stand Up! Sitting Less and Moving More Linked to Reducing Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Mar 06, 2013

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According to a study published on Feb. 27 in Diabetologia, inactivity is strongly and adversely associated with cardiometabolic health and may be a more important indicator of poor health than moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in adults with high risk of type 2 diabetes.

The study consisted of 878 participants and observed the correlation between sedentary behavior and physical activity in relation to cardiometabolic health. Participants were pulled from two separate ongoing diabetes prevention programs: Project STAND (Sedentary Time And Diabetes) and Walking Away from Diabetes.

Results showed there were detrimental linear associations of sedentary time with 2 h plasma glucose (standardized beta coefficient) (β= 0.220, p<0.001), triacylglycerol (β=0.206, p=0.001) and HDL-cholesterol (β=－0.123, p=0.029). Further, breaks in sedentary time, total physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were significantly inversely associated with measures of adiposity, but not with any other cardiometabolic variables after adjustment for sedentary time and body mass index.

The authors conclude that "this is an innovative approach that requires a paradigm shift, so that individuals think about the balance of sedentary behavior and activity in all aspects of daily life … the findings from this study may have important methodological and public health implications," they add.